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Memoir 

Of The 



Of The Late 

COLR.W. LOUGHERY 

"THE FATHER OF TEXAS DEMOCRACY" 



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The 
Well Remembered 
Veteran Journalist and Stain- 
less Patriot, Who for Many Years 
Consecrated His Genius and Best Efforts to 
the Cause of Democracy and Good Government, 
the Best Interest of Society and the 
Building up of the Material 
Interest of the 
State of 
Texas. 



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i^icparci] and ])nl)lislKHl at IhiMTciucsr of a iimiilx'r of 
liis friends wlio desire to j)ossess some aiitiientic liiemorijil 
eonceniiiig- liini. 

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F 391 
.L88 
Copy 1 



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Memoir 

Of The 



Of The Late 

COLR.W. LOUGHERY 

"THE FATHER OF TEXAS DEMOCRACY" 

The 
Well Remembered 
Veteran Journalist and Stain- 
less Patriot, Who for Many Years 
Consecrated His Genius and Best Efforts to 
the Cause of Democracy and Good Government, 
the Best Interest of Society and the 
Building up of the Material 
Interest of the 
State of 
Texas. 

Prepared and published at the request of a number of 
his friends who desire to possess some authentic memorial 
concerning him. 

^^•9 ••-^ 

Nacogdoches, Texas: 
Plaindealer Print , 

June, 189«. 



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AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED, 



To the friends of my late husband, Col. E. W. 
Loughery, I trust this little book will meet with your ap- 
proval, and kind consideration. 

Very Truly Yours^ 

MRS. E. M. LOUGHERY. 



?/).i^fj 



R. W. LOUQHERY. 

-^« 9^^. 

It is not the purpose of the author of this brief memoir 
to write a mere eulogium, but to present an outline of the 
mam incidents in the career of a man who, for many years, 
was a notable fij^ure upon the scene of action in this state, 
and whose memory, 'though his form has been consigned 
to earth, which at last must receive us all, is still revered 
by many of the older people of this state, who either knew 
hin> i)ersonally or by reputation. 

Calling uj) the vanished forms and scenes of long- 
ago, and viewing them in the calm af rer-liglit of interven- 
ing years events, that at the time of their hai)pening, ap- 
peared to have no necessary connection with one another 
3 are found to be (connected, and the characters, motives and 
actions of men are more fully understood. While we are 
subject to misapprehensions with reference to those who 
surround us in the land of the living, we are enabled, in a 
measure at least, to construct a connected history and 
fathom the meaning and estimate the value of a life that 
has been lived. So called history is but a part of true his- 
tory, the skeleton of history, necessary to be clothed with 
tissue and integuement and have a soul breathed into it to 
be endowed with life, grac'e and beauty. It is an imnerfect 
statement of general results, so imperfect, in fact, that 
Na]M>leon characterized it as a "fable which men have 
agreed to believe;" it would be more correct and nearer to 
the truth to say "a misrepresentation of the past." It is a 
tale, poorly told, made up of parts of many lives. It is im- 



i 



possible to over-estimate tbe value of the individual life. If 
there were more real biography there would be more real 
history. And when we speak of history, it is well torelleet 
and ask ourselves -'what is the utility of historyf There is 
certainly little value to be derived from an accurate knowl 
edge of the dates of the happening of events, such as bat- 
tles, accession of kings to thrones, rise and fab of empires, 
establishn)ent and downfall of republics and tlie like, or, 
even the discovery of inventions or the passage of laws; 
for, are we not now in tbe full enjoyment of all that has 
grown out of tbe past, from the time of the lirst faint tlut- 
terings of life in laurentian seas down to the splendid civil- 
ization of to day, wliich satisfies our needs. The office of 
history is not merely tc» inform ns of wbat has hapi)ened 
nor why it has hapi)ened, but 1o bequeath to us that wis- 
dom which is to be gathered alone from tiie dust of age 
that wisdohi which will teach men and nations how to avoid 
mistakes, and live nobly; to catch up tlie threads that lead 
through the labyrinth and advance along paths that lead 
to the highest good; to instruct the individual soul, in or- 
der that, according to its capacity, it may best })erform 
its part in this world and tU itself for whatever better 
destiny it is, by its inherent com])osition, capable of attain- 
ing under the general plan of being. This office of his 
tory, of which I speak, is mainly to beaccomi)lished ihrough 
biograpliy, and that ])art of biograi)hy whi(;h treats of mo- 
tive and character. 

No man who has ever walked upon this earth has been 
free from im])erfections, there have been none who have es- 
cai)ed errors, both of act and judgment, and the subject of 
this memoii'. Col. II. W. Loughery, was not an excei>tion to 
the general rule, but ''e'en the faults he had leaned to vir- 



tue^sside." He was slow to think evil of others, that he was 
easily deeeived — to the final loss of a coini)etency which he 
had acquired by years of unremitting- labor; a loss that befell 
him when the heyday of manhood was past and old age 
was at hand. He was so unselfish, that he to too great an 
extent subordinated his interests to those of others, and 
tailed to ask for, and often refused to accept, the rewards 
that, his services had richly earned, and that, at the time, 
would have been freely accorded him, but which later, 
when he greatly needed substantial recognition by his 
l)arty, was denied him under* a system of politics that leads 
those in power to bestow their favors not as .ewards of 
merit, but with an eye-single to personal aggrandizement — 
to ])refer an obscuue cross-roads politician who can com- 
mand ONE VOTE in the state convention, to an old veteran, 
who has grown gray in the service of his country. He 
saved the frail barques of nuiny politicians from disaster. 
He built up the political fortunes of several men who have 
since held high i)ositions in the councils of the nation, but 
sought no honors for himself, when (for instance, within a 
few years after the overthrow of the Military Commission at 
Jefferson) he could have secured any office within the gift 
of the people of Texas. 

Such, and such only, were his faults — they were a part 
of his mental and spiritual composition, and bore fruit that, 
whiie it did not embitter (for nothing could embitter) but 
saddened the later years of his life, until at last he sunk 
into the welcome grave, a portal which led him, it is to be 
hoped, to a region of hapi)iness and rest. 

If these were his faults, what were his virtues^ 
He was ambitious, not to secure political preferment, 
social position, influence or other reward, or to gratify per- 



s 

son:il v.niity by beiiij;, and i)aia(linj.' t\w fact tliat be was, 
patriotic, true, lionoiablc, pious, kindly, <»encrous and cbar- 
itablc; but ambitious alone to possess, cultivate and i)rac 
rice those virtues. The i)atlietic appealed to liiui as it does 
to few men. He wei)t '» itli tliose who mourned and re- 
joiced with those who rej()ic(d. He was above all i)etty 
jealousy. He not only sax- but applauded th( merits of 
others, and cheered them on in efforts that led to distinc- 
tion. He never ]termitted a case of suffering- to ^o unre- 
lieved that it was in his jjower to relieve, and he never 
turned a tramp or other beggar from his door. When the 
world cried, "Cruoify!'' he was ever found on the side of 
mercy. He never deserted his friends, but w^as quick to 
fly to their defenc^e when they ai)pealed to him, or when i.e 
saw that they needed his aid, and as a result, there are 
thousands who remend)er him and sincerely mourn his loss. 
He never failed to inspire the res[)ect even of his political 
enemies. He had the rare faculty of doing the right thing 
at the right time, and was a consumate master of the 
higher tactics of politicj^l warfare. He was an indomitable 
and trusted defender of right, and never failed to be the 
tirst to thrown himself squarely into the breach in time of 
public danger. He was physically and morally intrepid. 
He was quick to es])ouse every worthy cause, and advocate 
it with might and main, lie was not only kind and be- 
nevolent to meu and women, both great and small, rich and 
l)Oor, black and white; but, to God's creatures, the lower 
animals, not one of whom he ever injured, or permitted to 
be injured in his presence, without reproof. He turned, in- 
stinctively, to the defence of the weak jmd defenceless. He 
never did an intentional wrong, and never committed a 
wrong unintentionally or through error arising from mis- 



take of jiidj^iiieiit or a misreprosontatioii of facts that lie 
did not sorely re])eiit, and iiniiiediately seek to atone for. 
He never sacriticed i)rineiple for expediency. 

It may be said triitlifully of hiui "hat he was the 
^'Father of Texas Democracy. '' When he established his 
newspaper at Marsliall in 1849 (three years after Texas 
was admitted to the Union) the two great parties in the 
Uni'-ed States (Whigs and Democrats) had no representative 
local organizations in Texas. Seeing the confusion that 
])revailed and deprecating the i)ractice of conduct- 
ing cam])aigns merely (m i)ersonal and local issnes, he, 
for six years, zealously taught, throngh the columns of his 
paper, the tenets of Democratic faith, as to which there 
were many misconceptions (men running for office who 
claimed to be DemocratvS, and who did not understand nor 
believe in the lirst principles of Democracy) and sought to 
bring about party alignments, which he at hist succeeded 
in doing, as the state convention of 1855 was the result of 
Ins labors and the labor of those who aided liim in his 
'work. While he believed that concerted action in jmlitical 
matters, wliich can alone be secured througli perfect party 
organizations, he was of too manly and indei)endent a 
si)irit and too clear-headed and wise a man to erect a i)arty 
into a fetisch, to l)e bowed down before and worshii)pe(| 
with the blind and senseless adaration that the African 
bestows ujxHi a sti(;k wrapi)ed with colored yarn and tipped 
witli feathers, or other object that he invests witii occult 
and omnii)otent i)owers. He did not hesitate to criticise 
])latforms- candidates and oti[icials---from the higliest to the 
lowest — when he deemed such (;ritisiM necessary to the good 
of the country or i)arty. 'He believed in the great cardinal 
princii)les n])on whicli his scnool of ])olitical economy rests. 



10 

If party leaders violated those prinei[)les he souj^ht, as far 
as his intluence extended, to whip them back into line. If 
liis views upon jniblic questions were not acce[)te(l and 
enunciated in the platform utterances of his party, he did 
not cease to advocate their adoption, neither did he quit 
the l^arty, for, with the author of Lacon, he believed "tiiat 
the violation of coirect ])rinciples offers no excuse for their 
abandonment," and was sure ihat the Democratic masses 
would in time force their leaders, so-called (the most sub- 
servent of followeis, with few excei)tions) to ado[)t the cor- 
rect conrse and retrace the false an<l dan<»er()us stej)s that 
were being taken. He believe<i that if the principles 
enunciated by Mr. Jefferson, Calhoun and their associates 
were practically ai)plied to the administration of our Ka 
tional and State affairs, we would liave one of the most 
endurino-, freest and ha|)piest governments that it is i)os 
sibk^ for human genius to construct, and human patriotism 
an<l Avisdom to sustain. Party, with inm, was merely a 
necessary means to a desirable end — good government and 
constitutional integrity and freedom — and he combated 
(^very movement, utterance, or nomination that i)romised to 
im})air its strength or usefulness. Election to the office of 
])resident or governor (let the man be Whig, Democrat or 
llei)ubiican, M\d no matter what past service lie had per- 
formed) did not cloth the individual so elected, to his way 
of thinking, with any of the divine attributes tVnMnerly 
ascribed to kings, and lie did not hesitate to speak out 
(or rather, write, for he was no speaker) plainly, when he 
thought it necessary to do so. If a mistake was made by 
such men, lie was determined that they should be warned 
botii of the fact and its necessary consecpiences, and siiould 
be made to slioulder tin^ entire res[)onsibility, and not be 
permitted to sadcUe if off' on the i)arty. 



— 11 — 

It is getting to be tlie fasliioii now to cry "Treason!" if 
tlie wisdom of the acts of a biji>li public ofHcial are brought 
in question, ov his utterances assailed by niembers of the 
party to which he belongs, ciud which ele(tted him to the 
position. Unless the common sense of the ])eople asserts 
itself S])eedily the servants will become the masters of the 
people, and a general si)irit of (;owardise will result in such 
gross blunders as to lead tothedisintergrationof the party. 
He was quick to ])ardon a ])rivate fault and foigive and 
forget a personal grievance; but woe to the man who 
usurped authority, made power the instrument of injustice, 
or betrayed a ])ublic trust, for he might expect the scorpion 
lasli. He believed in bowing to the will of the majority to 
this extent: If it was a majority secured at the polls 
against a course he believed in, until he and his co-laborers 
could win a majority of suffragans to their side and reverse 
the result; if of his party, in opposition to his views, until 
lit' could win enough of his fellow members to his way of 
thinking to secure such party utterances or action as he 
desired, or until he became convinced that he, was in error; 
but he WOULD NOT bow slavishly and say thar wnmg was 
right upon the mere ipse dixti of any majority, nor would 
he relax his efforts in the defense of his opinions. He 
would frankly say that he believed the party to have acted 
unwisely, but that he intended to remain with it and sup- 
port its nominees, because he knew that it offered the oid^^ 
i^ecure hoi)e for the maintenance of good government in 
this country, and would learn from experience, and rectify 
the mistake into which it had fallen, lie was devoted to 
the Democratic Hag, with a devotion akin to that which a 
veteran feels for the colors of his regiment, which he has 
followed through baptism after baptism of tire to victory. 



12 

Ho ciitcitiiined no superstitious reverence for majorities, 
nor did lie believe that^ the time bad yet come when tliey 
were .nvested witli tlie attributes of infallibility. On tlie 
(•(mtrary lie knew that they were often wrong-, and in time 
]}ast had long stifled truth, persecuted innocence, o])i)osed 
liuman ndvancement in every department of knowledge, 
and inflicted niucli cruel injustice — liad forced Gallileo to 
swear that an iir mutable truth was a lie, had burned Cervitus 
at the stake, kei)t the fagot-fires of ])ersecution ablaze at 
Smitlifield and Oxford, and condemned Chiist to an ignom- 
inious death upon the cross. He knew the minorities had 
oi)l)osed all these foolish and evil acts, and that the minori- 
ties hod grown to be the majorities upon which our present 
civilization rests securely. He believed that it w^as the 
duty of a minority that felt itself in the right, to persevere 
against all obstacles to the achievement of final success, 
and that if this were not so, there would be an end of prog- 
ress, as the exi)ressecl will of the first majority secured 
w(mld have all the binding force of an edict flowing from 
an infallii:ie source. He w-as charitable, not merely in. 
word and deed, but in thought as well. Nothing pained 
him more than to be compelled to listen to. words of de- 
traction, and under no circunjstances would he repeat ;hem. 
He was a bold, aggressive personality — made to lead in 
times of storm and struggle. 

Com])aratively early in his career it was charged that 
Hon. Lewis T. Wigfall wrote the editorials for the Texas 
llepublican, but this piece of malicious whis[)ering was 
soon forever silenced, as lie and Wigfall became engaged 
in a newspajier controversy, in which Wigfall was ])laced 
iiors de combat. Col. Loughery was a devoted husband 
and father. 



13 

He Wiis boni in Xiisliville, Tennessee, Febuary U, 1Sl>(), 
jind was educated at St. Joseph's College at Bardstow ii. 
Keiitiieky, to wliieli place his parents, Robert and wSarali 
Ann Louji'liery (From the XortJ! of Ireland) removed dnr 
iuiX his infancy. At ten years of a,i»e he was left an orphan 
and not Ion;;- after entered a printin«>' oftice where he learn- 
ed the trade. 

News of the revolution in i)i<)<;Tess in Texas — the 
massacres at the Ahimo and (loliad and the victory won at 
the battle of San Jacinti)— tired him with a desire to 
join the patriot army and strike a blow for liberty and, 
a,lrhou,i;h Uut sixteen year of age, he went ro Cincinnati, 
Ohio, and there joined a military conipany and started 
with it for Texas. A frail, delicate lad, he was taken sick 
en route to New Orleans and was left in that city, when^ 
he remained a year and a half, and then went ro Monro;', 
Louisiana, where he remained until 1<S4(), part of the time 
conducting an intluential news[)aper, and then again went 
to New Orleans. In 1847 he removed to Texas and dnr 
ing that year edited a pa[)er at Jefferson. He spent 1S4S 
in travelling ov^er the state, often trav^ei'sing solitudes o* 
forest and prairie for days together. He said in after life 
that souie of the most ])leasant hours that he had ever 
spent were in the wilderness in silent and solitary liiedita- 
Tion as he rode along, far from the haunts of men. 

In May 1.S41) he and Judge Trenton J. Patile established 
the Texas Ilepublican at Marshall, one of the most famous 
newspapers ever jmblished in Texas, and certainly the 
most widely intiuential and by far the ablest conduc'ted in 
the state befine the war. The [)aj)i*r was named The Texas 
Republican in honor of the ])arty which advocated the 
ado])tion of the American constitution. Judge Farile sold 



14 

his interest to Lis son, Mr. Frank Patilo, in ISoO and io 
1851 Col. Lonf>liery obtained sole control of the paper by 
purchase, and conducted it alone until August, 1869. The 
files of The Texas Kei)ublican were purchased a few years 
since by the State of Texas and are now preserved in the 
archeaives of the state dej^artinent of Insurance, Statistics 
and History. Before the war this paper was the recog- 
nized organ of the democratic party in Texas. It led tlie 
host in every contest. The fiery know-nothing campaign of 
1855 gave full scope for the exercise of his varied abiUties. 
The Know Nothing party was a secret oath-bound, organi- 
zation, hostile to Catholicism and opposed to* immigrants 
from foregin lands acquiring right of citizenship in this 
country. Largely, if not mainly, through the efforts of 
Col. Loughery, a Democratic State Convention was called 
(the first in the state) assembled, nominated candidates 
for state offices, and drew the Democracy ui) in regular ar 
ray to contest the stat^ with the opposition. To him, the 
methods and tenents of the Know-Nothhig party we;e en- 
tirely obnoxious. While necessity might be plead for the 
formation and maintenance of secret, oath-bound, political 
associations in such a country as Eussia, no excuse, he de 
clared, could be offered for their existence here. In his 
opinion they were foregin to the genius of our institution 
and a menace to individual and popular liberty. As to re- 
ligion. Catholic or other, he contended that every man 
should have the right to worshij) (iod according to the 
dictates of his own conscience. That this right should be 
protected and that the state had nothing to do with relig- 
ion or with other matters purely of conscience. As to re- 
strictions upon men of foregin birth being accorded the 
rights of citizenshii), he reminded the people that our fore- 



15 

fathers, themselves, had originally come from Europe, that 
Lafayette and others had crossed the ocean to aid the colo- 
nists in the revolution of 1770, that thousand of foregin 
birtli had done valient service in the war of ISlli and in the 
Texas revolution and that throughout the land the foregin 
element furnished examples of citizenship that 
were unexcei)tionable. He took the position that men 
who left home and all its endearments and the land where 
they were born, hallowed as it was by the traditions and 
acheivements of their race, to cross the seas in search of 
wider liberty and better orportunities among a people to 
whose very language they were strangers, were made of 
such ])rinciples as should be invited rather than repelled 
as immigrants. His was not the spirit of the cormorant 
w^ho desires all for self, but that better spirit that led the 
founders of the republic to boast that they had established 
anasyium to which, through all future time, the oppressed 
and down-troden might llee with the certainty of receiving 
protection being accorded the rights of free men. The 
following incident is illustrative of the temper of the times. 
Hon. Pendleton Murrah, afterwards governor of the state, 
was a candidates for Congress and opened his campaign at 
Marshall. It was impossible to estimate the strength of 
the Know-iS'^othing party, as all its proceedings were held 
in secret. This strength was greatly under estimated by 
Murrah and his friends. They believd that the excite- 
ment was of an ephemeral character and was cont^ned to 
a few individuals who hoi)ed to secure oftice by playing the 
roles of ]^oliUcal agitators. Mr. Murrah assailed the 1*^m1- 
ers and princijdes of Know-Nothingisiii with allthe v.^or 
and venon of which he was capable (and he was capable 
of great deal in that, as well as other, directions) hoping to 



10 — 

give Mie Aiiiericaii i>aity, so far as his (lislric^t was eon- 
cenuMl, its Coiii> de^Taee. OiiCM)f the leading citizens of 
the eonnty arose and declared that the gentleman who 
composed the American i)arty had been insulted, and called 
n;)on all members the party to follow liim from the court 
room. There was a moment of breathless expectation, 
succeeded by the audience arising, well-nigh en ma.^sc and 
moving toward the door. Soon Mr» Murrah and two or 
three friends alone remained. They were dumbfounded. 
Tlie scene they had Avitnessed was a revelation. They 
realized that there was no hope of Democratic success in 
the district and that the Know-Nothing party would sweep 
it. Mr. Murrah declared his intention to at once withdraw 
from the race. At this moment Col. Loughery stepi)ed u/^ 
to him and urged him to continue the campaign and that 
Avith increased vigor, saying^. among other things. "If you 
retire now in the face of the enemy, your political career 
will end today. Although defeat is certain, stand up and 
tight, and when the Know-Nothing p.jrty is (condemned by 
the sober second-thought of the ])eoi)le, you will be remem- 
bered and honored." Mr. Murrah followed Coi. Loughery's 
advice and was afterwards elected Governer. The cam- 
l)aign waxed hotter and hotter. The Texas Repulic^an's 
phillipics, many of which were unsurpassed by any written 
by the author of Junius or uttered by Sheridan or Burke^ 
fell thicker and faster and party s[)eakers flew swiftly from 
point to i)oint harranguing the multitude, sometimes alone 
but more often in tierce joint-debate. At last came the 
fateful day of elecjtion, a day of doom for the Know-Noth- 
ing party (but not of its sjjirit, for that is still alive) and of 
victory to the Democracy. 



17 

Tlie next inoiiientous citocli in the liistory of Tol. 
LoiiglK'iy was tliat njaikod by the secession moveinent. 
As {o the ri^ht of revohition, it is necessarily inlierent in 
every ])eoi)le. The time when it sliall be exercised rests 
alone in ^heir discretion. The right of secession was of an 
entirely different nature. It was in vhe nature of that 
right which a ])arty elainis when lie withdraws from a con- 
tract, the terms of which have been violated or the consid- 
eration for which has been withdrawn, and identical with 
that with which nations who are ijarties to a treaty of alii 
ance. offensive and defensive reserve to themselves 
(although the compact may in its terms ])rovide for a per- 
petual union) to consider the treaty annulled when its 
terms are dei)arted from or the connection no longer con- 
tinues to be i)leasant or profitable. Withdrawal may, or 
may not, give offense and lead to a declaration of war. If 
it does lead to hostihties, the resulting struggle is one car- 
ried on by equals in which heavy artillery and big batallions 
will settle the fate of the quarrel, rhe question of moral 
right must be left to the decision of the ])ublic conscience 
of the world, or, if that conscience fails to asssert itself at 
the time, to posterity and the imjjartial historians of a later 
period. At one tiuje in the liistory of the English race, the 
trial by battle was a part of legal p.rocedure by which 
issues, both civil and criminal, were judicially determined. 
The ])laintiff, or accuser, iireferred his charge and the 
defendant made answer by denial and challenging the op- 
posing i)arty to a single canibat, calling upon (iod as he did 
so, to defend the right. A day and ])lace were thereujuui 
fixed for the trial and, after many solemnities, such as 
swearing of oaths, kissing of IMbles etc., the command was 
given "Let the combatants go!'' and the huter advanced. 



18 

attacked each otlier and fought until one could tiglii no 
longer. At the conclusion of this struggle, which always 
took place in the presence of judges anfl a large concourse 
of i^eople, the victor was declared to have established his 
claim, or innocence as the case might be, and accorded, if 
he desired it, something in the nature of a formal triumph, 
being escorted back to town by the multitude amid sound- 
ing huzzahs and other demonstrations of popular approval 
and sympathy. But in course of time men came to see 
that skill, strengtn and courage were the solo, factors that 
controlled the issue of such contests and that wrong was 
as often successful as fight. As a consequence the trial by 
battle fell gradually into disuse and at last became extinct 
and is no^' only remembered as a curious custom incident 
to the evolution of our system of jurisprudence. What 
has been said of the trial by battle may be said with equal 
truth of war, and the fate of war. The fact that the south- 
ern states v.'ere defeated, consequently, has no bearing upon 
the question of their right to secede. The American union 
was originally formed by independent sovereignties tbat 
bound themselves together to secure certain benetits and to 
remain so associated so long as the conneiJtion proved de- 
sirable. Such was the theory, in part, held by Col. Lough- 
ery and others who advocated secession. He believed that 
every essential guarantee contained in the written compact, 
or contract, of union had been grossly violated and that the 
southern states could no longer either expect peace or se- 
curity to their rights, or any benefit whatever by continue- 
ing under the same governmental-roof with tlie states north 
of Mason and Dixon's line. H^^ was in favor of a Dcaceful 
withdrawal, if possible. He thought it was better for the 
states of the two se(;tions to live ai)art, as they had no in- 



n) 

terests in coiiiiuon. Therefore ae supiKuled tlie seeessioii 
iiiovemeut. If the southeiii sUites liad been allowed to 
l)eacefully withdraw from the union there wonhl liavebeen 
no war. It has been said that the war was unav()i(hible. 
That is untrue, for it could have beyn avoided in this way 
and the resjjonsibility for the blood that was shed (U)es not 
lie at the door of the southern states. As a matter of fact 
the hand of providence seems to have guided the course of 
events. Questions were settled by the war that could have 
been settled in no other way, better conditions were inau- 
gurated that could have been inaugurated in no other way, 
misconce|)ti(ms and animosities were obliterated that could 
have been obliterated in no otln r way, mutual respect and 
confidence were inspired tliat(;ould have been inspired iii'ttli) 
other way, and a truly fraternal and undestructible Union 
established that couhl have been established in no other 
way, a Union to which all tlie i)eo[)le of all the states are 
deeply attached. During the progiess of the war Col. 
Loughery oi)posed the passage of the conscript laws and 
the invasion of the jurisdiction of ci\'il authority by military 
commanders. With all his i)owers of persuation he rough t 
to keei> uj) the waning hopes of the peoi)le as the months 
passed on into years and the Confederacy, like the tower 
Ushur, daikly nodded to its fall. Knowing that many of 
the families of Confederate soldiers then in tbe he'd were 
in need, he inaugurated a movement that resulted in amass 
meeting at the Court House in MaishaH, Texas, at whicli a 
committee was ai)i)ointi'd to ^^olicit subscrij)tions of money 
and provisions for the establishment of a depot of-suppiies, 
at which such families could obtain what they needed. He 
continued to i)ublish his paper throughout the war, never 
missing an issue. The hnal result of the struggle did not 



20 

unnerve liiui as it did many otber ])ublie men, some of whom 
amcmg the number the brilliant and lamented Pendleton 
Murrah, fled the country to find graves in alien lauds. 
Tliose were dark day that followed the surrender, and 
the estabhshment of military rule. Some of those who 
l)oasted that they would submit to no indignities, not only 
timely submitted but went entirely over to the Kadieals, 
accepted office under tliein and seemed to delight ino})[)ress 
ing a defenseless |)eoi)le. This class found no mercy at 
the hands of Col. Loughei y. His course was characterized 
by eminent good sense and ^^as remarkable for its fearleSvS- 
ness. Owing to the stand tlu.t he took the iniquities that 
were ])eriietrated fell far short in atrocity to what they 
would otherwise have done, as he unhesitatingly not only 
ventilated, but denounced what was going on and his 
papers found ^heir way to Washington. 

In April, 1857, he started the Jefferson Times (daily 
and weekly) and ran it in connection with his paper at 
Marshall. 

At this time a (?omi)lete systein of oi)i)ression and tyr- 
anny prevailed. An army of thieves were sent into the 
country, ostensibly to protetrt the negroes and to hunt up 
Confederate cotton and other alleged Confederate property. 
The Freedmen's Bureau had its agents in every county. 
The jails were full of respectable peoi)le, charged with dis- 
loyalty or alleged crimes, on the complaints of mean whites 
or depraved negroes. Five military despotisms prevailed 
in the south. Governors were deposed, legislatures dis- 
persed at the point of the bayonet and citizens disfranchis- 
ed. The i)ress was silenced and men were afraid to talk, 
but in many places they became bolder, until they did not 
see actual danger. 



Such was the case in Jefferson, in 1S09, when a mini 
ber of outraged citizens broke into the jail and shot to 
death a man named Smith, (who had often threatened to 
have the town burned) and three negroes. These kilhngs 
inflamed the Radicals. They cared nothing about Smith, 
whose conduct was about as offensive to them as to the 
people, but they seemed to rejoice at the opportunity this 
incident afforded to oppress a people that they hated. 
Col. Loughery, with both j)apers, attacked the military 
organization and the military commission appointed to try 
these men and others incarcerated at Jefterscm, charged 
with alleged crime. The commission prevailed for over 
six months, Mud with it a reign of terror. Men talked in 
bated whispers. A large number of men left the country 
to escape persecution. A stockade was erected on the 
Vv'cst side of town, in wiiich were imprisoned over fifty per- 
sons. Martial law prevailed, the writ of habeas corpus 
was suspended, and men weie tried by army officers in 
time of profound peace, in plain, ()[)en, violation of the con- 
stitution. His position during this period was one of great 
])eril, as he reported the })roceedings of, and boidly assailed, 
the commission and its acts from day to day. His life was 
more than once secretly attempted, and a Federal Colonel 
was finally selected to chastize him publicly. Col. Loughery 
gave the fellow a sound beating, however, and the crest- 
fallen t)fficer was arrested, carried before a llepublican 
mayor and fined, and subsequently transferred by his 
supeiior otficers to another department. 

Col. Loughery's able and intrepid course resulted in 
the downfall of rhe commission, prevented the an-est of 
many j)ersons, and the commission of many outrageous 
acts that otherwise w<mld have been committed, and pre 



served the lives and liberties of many of those confined 
in the stockade. AVith him at the head of the Times, 
the military authorities were compelled to restrain them- 
selves, and think well before they acted. They ordered 
him several times to cease his strictures, but in each in- 
stance he sent back a bold defiance, and th^^ following- 
morning the Times api)eared with editorials in keeping 
with those of former issues. He had three newspaper 
plants and all of his files destroyed by fire in Jefferson, but 
notwithstanding these great losses and heavy expense at- 
tendant upon the publication of a daily newspaper in those 

days, he conducted the Times until , after which 

time he published and edited papers at Galveston and Jef- 
ferson, Texas, and Shreveport, Louisiana, and from 1877 
until 1880, edited the Marshall Herald, at Marshall, Texas, 
pubhshed by Mr. Howard Hamments. Some of the best 
work that he ever did was on the Herald. There was . 
scarcely a pai>er m the state that did not quote from the 
Herald's editorial columns, and the editors of the state, as 
if by common consent, united in referring to him on all oc 
casions as the ^'Xestor of the Texas Press.'' 

''From a very early period Col. Loughery strongly ad- 
vocated the building of a Trans-Continental railwiiy through 
Texas to the Pacific ocean, and while in Xew Orleans on 
one occasion was employed by Col. Faulk, the original pro- 
jector of the Texas and Pacific railway, to write a series of 
articles for the Picayune in defense of ihe corporation 
which Col. Faulk had then recently fornied. Later he be- 
came one of the stock holders and directors of the corpora- 
tion. Throughout his life he felt an interest in the fortunes 
of the Texas and Pacific, and remained an earnest advocate 
of railway construction. Every worthy enterprise found 
m him a staunch and zealous supporter.'' 



23 

In 1887 lie was appointed by IMcsident Cleveland 
et)nsul for the United States at ^Veapuleo, Mexico, and held 
the office until December Ist, 181)0, making- one of the best 
officers in the foreign service. He was often commended 
by the state department, and his reports were copied by 
the leading commercial papers m Europe and America. 

Consuls are as a rule, able men, conscientious in the 
discharge of their duties, and fully the equals of their 
brothers of the service in either Euro]>e, Asia or Africa. 
Their duties are of vast importance to this country, and 
necessarily more commercial than diplomatic. Consuls 
should have, though, more than a smattering of interna- 
tional rights and duties. 

When they ha\ e to temijorarily assume the duties of 
an TTiiited States Minister, and see to it that the lives and 
proi)erty of his compatriots are not im])erilled, and that 
the lionor of the flag is maintained. The consul has to be 
acquainted with shii)ping laws, and have a more or less 
judicial ability in the settling of disputes between captains 
and seamen, and between foreign port officials, and our 
mercbant marine, when they arise. He has to ceitify to 
consular invoices, and be conversant with the values of 
exports and imports, so that no clash shall occur between 
the custom authorities and importers at home. Further, 
and above all, the consul has to carefully watch foreign 
traders, the manufactures and industries of the country 
where he is accredited, and condense in readable reports 
what he observes that should interest the exporters and 
importers of the United States. 

Now, all this requires exiierience and a long head. A 
man should not be chosen for such work whose only 
prerecquisite is, that he is a good luditician or "spell-binder." 



24 

Such can be used elsewhere as their party may determine, 
but certainly not in the consular office. 

Col. Loughery was undoubtedly one of the finest 
writers and clearest thinkers that the south has ever pro- 
duced, and deserves to rank with Eitehie, Kendall and 
Prentiss. It has been said that journalism has greatly 
improved in recent years. This is true with regard to the 
gathering and dissemination of news, but not true in any 
other particular. 

He had many loving friends and thousands who ad- 
mired his character and respected his services, yet remain, 
and for them this imperfect memoir is prepared. He is 
well remembered by the public men in Texas who began 
their career shortly after the war and still continue in 
politics. For many of them he entertained a waruj per- 
sonal friendship until his dying day. 

Noble soul, what now to thee are the things of this 
transitory world, whose succeeding generations are as. 
shadows that swiftly pass across the dial-idate of time and 
come no more. 



THE PRESS. 

As an evidence of the e.steeni in which Col. Loughery 
was regarded by the editorial fraternity and other friends. 
I rei)rodiice a few of the many notices of him in times past: 

Col. li. W. Loughery, the jjioneer editor of the state, 
and the reliable old war-horse, who stood as a wall between 
our i)eoi)le and the vandals dnridg the days of reconstruc- 
tion, is spoken of in connection with the office of Commis- 
sioner of Insurance, Statistics and History, and we shall be 
glad indeed, if he receives the apitointment. His (lualific.j- 
tions are second to those of no man in Texas; and, further, 
he deserves the place — in fact, he can hardly be repaid for 
the valiant services he has rendered tlie peoi)le of Texas 
during" the many years he has labored for their benefit. 
We trust there will not be a moment's hesitation about his 
appointment. — Paris North Texan. 



Another says: "We are informed that Gov. Ireland 
will be strongly urged to api)oint (-ul. R. W. Loughery of 
Jefferson, Texas, to the position of Commissioner of Insu 
ranee, Statistics and History of Texas. 

"This would be a most titting thing to do. Why! 

"First, because his long residence in Texas, his educa- 
tion, training and habits eminently tit and cpialify him for 
the satisfactory discharge of the duties of tlic i)osition. 

"Second, he has been a citizen of the state for forty 
years i)ast, and no man in it is better acquainted with its 
l)rogTess, history, climate, productions and mineral wealth. 

"Third, during all these forty years, lie lias been a 
consistent, outs})oken, uggressive Democrat, and has never 



2G 

askert for or lield a i)ositi()n at the bands of tlie Doiiiocratie 
])arty. 

"Fourth, no liU'inber of tlie press of Texas, so far as 
we are advised, has ever occupied a position under any 
Democratic administration, und it is higli time now that its 
merits and great services to the party and the state should 
be recognized. 

"Fifth, Col. Lougliery has sf)ent the best years of his 
life in the service of Texas and the Democratic party, and 
now tliat he is urowing: old and is financially de[)ressed, it 
would be a fitting thing for a Democratic administration to 
do to recognize his great services, and ap])oint him to the 
position for which his man}' friends tln^oughout the state 
are pressing his claims, and we with them, join in ti»e 
request to Grov. Ireland to give the old veteran this j)osi- 
tion, and in doing so. we feel sure he will serve the best 
interests of the state, and will show a jn-oper appreciation 
of the great ser\'ices of the piess to the state and the 
Democratic part}^ 

"We hope to see every Democratic newspaper in Texas 
espouse Col. Loughery's cau^e and press his chiinis for this 
api)ointjnent.'' 



(iov. Ireland is being strongly urged by many of the 
best ]3emocrats in the state to appoint Col. II. W. Loughery 
of Jefferson, Texas, to the office of Commissioner of Insu- 
rance, Statistics and History, which he is so well (pialified 
to fill, and it is believed the (lovernor will com])ly with 
their wishes. The juess has never had anything, and it is 
time its claims u])()n Democratic adnnnistrations were being 
recognized. — llei aid. 



Tilt' Tyler DcsMoci-at, ill allndinj^ to this iiiaUer, snys: 
^'Wf uiKlerstaiid that niir old iTiciid, (/ol. K. W. Tiouj^lieiy, 
of JeftVison— tiiat staunch old DeJiiocrat and veteran of 
the Texas press— will in'obably be an applicant for appoint- 
ment to tlu positim of Ccniinissioner of Insurance, Statis- 
tics and History. For the discharge of 11m' duties of sucli 
a i)osition his education, training and habits eminently (it 
him: and we feel that his long and honest service for the 
Democracy of Texas will make such an isppeal for liim to 
the incoming Democratic administration as few men could 
make. We are certain that (4ov. Ireland could not do 
better service to tire state, or more suitably begin his ap- 
l)ointuients, than by ])lacing Col. Longhery in this position, 
and we ho])e he will do so " 

Another joins on the large list with the following: 
"Col. K. AV. Lougbery of Jefferson, for ui)wards of thirty- 
six years connected with the jness of Texas, most of tbc 
time as an editor, is suggested as a suitable man for tbe 
important ])ositi(m of Commissioner of Insurance, Statistics 
and History. Col. Loughery is heartily reconnnended by 
the democratic iness of the state, and justly so we think. 
His long exi)erience in the editorial chair and his familiarity 
with Texas history qualify him especially for the statistical 
and historical part of bis duty. He has labored long and 
faithfully for the interests of Texas with, if we are correctly 
informed, but little i)e(;uniary reward. He has been a life- 
long and consistent democrat, laboring for the interests of 
the i)arty in season and out of season. Without presuming 
to advise Gov. Ireland, we think that a more tilting and 
better man for the ])()sition connot be iound in the state 
than Col. Loughery. His brethren of the ])ress would be 
])leased to see him nomiiuited." 



li8 

The Jefferson Jimp, referring to Col. R. W. Loughery^j* 
candidacy for the position of Commissioner of Insurance 
and Statistics, says there is no man better qualified for tlie 
place, and certainly none who have served longer or more 
faithfully the Democratic party. Parties, like republics^ 
are ungTatefuI. Col. Loughery has worked honestly and 
faithfully in the interests of the people of Texas and the 
Democratic party for upwards of one-third of a century,, 
and to-day he has nothing to show for his devotion, except 
the consciousness of having done right. We hope that 
Judge Ireland will give him the position he seeks. — Bren- 
ham Banner. 

The Marshall Herald advocates with much earnestness 
the elaims of Col. R. W. Loughery of Jefft rson, for ap- 
pointment to the position of Commissioner of Insurance^ 
History and Statistics. Our contemporary thinks the i^ro- 
fession of journalism ought to furnish the incumbent of 
this office, and after paying a high and merited tribute to 
the ability and public services of Col. Loughery, and giving 
good reasons for the laitb that is in it, and says: 

"In looking over the field of journalism for such a 
man, the Herald presents the name of Col. R. W. Loughery 
for the position. We learn from his friends that he has 
made an api)lication to Hon. Jolm Ireland^ governor elect,, 
for the position of Commissioner of Insurance, Statistics 
and History. ^Vn opportunity is now offered to a governor 
of Texas ti) recognize the ability, devotion and fidelity of 
the press to the best interests of the state. The ap])oint- 
ment of Col. Loughery will not only be a fitting recognition 
of his ability and eminent public services to the state and 
the Democratic party, as a journalist, but will be accepted 
by the editorial fraternity as a compliment to them." — 
G reen v ille Hera Id. 



20 

The Winsboro i=^entinel copies Herald artiele uiid adds: 
"Knowing the fitness of Col. Louglieiy for the position as 
well as his unqnestioned devotion to Texas and especially 
to the deinociatic party, the Sentinel heartily concurs in 
the sentiments expressed by the Herald. Col. L's long- 
residence in the state and his familiarity svith the past as 
well as the present history of Texas, his fidelity to every 
trust and devotion to principle, render him amply meritor- 
ious of the favor thus asked for by the press of Texas, and 
we hope that Gov. Ireland will make the appointment." 

The Dallas Times repeats the general expression of 
the democratic papers of Northern Texas in this: "Colonel 
Loughery, of Jefferson, is si)oken of as a man who would 
be acceptable to the people as their commissioner of insur- 
ance and statistics under the incoming democratic adminis- 
tration. He is the man to fill it with credit to the state. 
He is the man who needs it. He is a Texan whom the 
people have always admired for his integrity, his probity, 
his great interest in and knowledge of the state. He is a 
demo(;rat who has never "weakened," and never forgotten 
his party and the i)eople's interest. If Judge Ireland ap- 
points him to the position Judge Ireland will receive the 
applause of all who are acquainted with the worthiness 
and ability of Colonel Loughery to fill the place." 

In May, 1872, Col. Loughery was comu»issioned counsel 
at Acapuleo, Mexico, and at once assumed the duties of 
his office. In that city he found a strong pre.iudice exist- 
ing against Americans and particularly against Texjvs, the 
heritage of a bloody war and his successors in office. His 
geniality of manner, kind, courteous and business like man- 



30 

ner soon swept this away, and lie succeeded in supplanting" 
the strong anti-American sentiment with admiration and re- 
spect for America and Americans as strong. By untiring 
efforts lie succeeded in giving his government far more in- 
formation than it had ever before been able to obtain from 
this portion of tlie Mexican republic. In fact, wlien he was 
recalled at the expiration of President Cleveland's hrstterm 
the relations between the United States and this imj)or- 
tant ])ort and coaling station were in every way ))!eas!int 
and the business of tlie consulate was in better condition 
than e\'er before.'' 



It is now (Tetinately known that our townsman. Col. R. 
W. Loughery, the Xestor of tlie Texas press, iias been ap- 
jiointed American Consel at Aca[)ulco, Mexico. Col. 
Loughery's reputation as an able and fearless editor, as an 
honest and faithful Democrat, is beyond question and noth- 
ing we might write could possibly add to his well earned 
and well deserved re[)utation. If Col. Loughery had done 
nothing more, hisheroic, but perih)us hght with the military 
in the days of reconstruction, when Jefferson wasainilitary 
inqui'^ition, and the man who opjmsed it imperiled both life 
and liberty, he would deserve the highest praise. As a 
staunch, tiied and true Densocrat of theJeft'ersonian school. 
Col. Loughery is the [leer of any and <leserves liberal recog- 
nition from the party. Texas owes him a large debt of 
gr;ititude and liberal material recognition for the work he 
has done in shaping her i)()litical fortunes wlieii it cost 
much in peril and sacrifice to defend her rights aiul auton- 
omy against the combined power of Federal authority and 
hireling satrajis. As a writer Col. Loughery is clear, de- 
cisive, strong and few men are better posted in the political 



;n 

liistory of our national and southern state ])()litics, and few, 
if any are better able to defend a demoeratic administration. 
As a consular rei)resentative of our country in Acai)uico, 
Mexico, lie will brin.i>' to his duties a mind well cultivated 
and a large exi)erience in the duties of American citizen- 
shi|) aiul an accurate knowledge of tlie history of our gov- 
ernment. The Colonel will wield a pen able and ready for 
any en^ergency in pQuve or war — a damascus blade that 
has nev^er yet been sheatlu'd in the presence of an eiu>my. 
— Marshall Messenger. 



The death of Ool. Loughery at Marshall April the iMUh, 
1<S94, was received here with deep regret and profound sor- 
row, and a pall of gloom hangs ovei' his old home and 
around the scenes of his glorious works and accomplishments 
during the dark days of reconstruction. During those 
trying times he stood as a champion o1 civil liberty, and 
boldly defended the rights of the i)eoplo against usurpation 
of the powers that were imposing a tyranny and rule that 
was abhorred by the civilized world. The military commis- 
sion organized in a time of [)rofound i)ea(;e, and its inhuman 
l)racti(;es, is a stigma u[)on the do;ninaiit party and a dis- 
grace to the i)ower tliat authorized and sanctioned its out- 
rages. Every means to degrade and oi)press the peo])le 
was organized aiul ran in contlict anil o})position to the law 
and order that the best element here was anxious to prevail. 
A reign of terror was imposed, and our innocent i)eople 
were incarcerated in a bastile, ami tired by a mock tribunal 
for crimes they never committed, to gratify a petty tyranny 
born and nutured in i)artisan spirit aiul sectional hatred. 
At the beginning of this storujy period Col, Lougiiery .caiiu' 
totlie rescue and nobly aiul gallantly wielded tlu' pen and 



32 

foa^'lit for principles and justice ciiifl boldly ennnciated a 
law and rule to restore common rights and liberty, that ttie 
existing marshal law had stultified and sat upon with im- 
j^unity. A desired effect was at last attained, and the com- 
mission was devolved, and the civil law was permitted to 
assume its righttul functions, and acknowledged superior to 
the military. They gratitude for his efforts along this 
perilous line is a silent but eloquent tribute to the memory 
of Col. Loughery. Pie has gone to his reward, and we join 
the craft in sincere sorrw, and mourn in common with the 
family of oar esteeiued old friend. — Jefferson Jimplicute. 



SALEM ALEIKUM. 

Peace be to tliy sacred dust, 

Cares of earth are ended! 
Through life's long and weary day, 

Grief and joy was blended. 

BleSvSed is that perfect rest. 
Free from pain and sorrow. 

Death's dark night, alone can bring. 
Sleep with no sad morrow. 

Memory's holy censer yields 

Fragrance sweet, forever. 
Home holds ties, to loving hearts, 

Parting can not sever. 

Kindly words and noble deeds 

Give thy life its beauty. 
Brave and i)atient to the last. 

Faithful tu each duty. 

True as steel to every trust. 

Thy aims were selfish never. 
Good deeds live when thou art gone, 

Thy light shines brighter ever. 

Good light fought, and life work o'er, 
Friends and loved ones round thee, 

Garnered like the full ripe ear, 
Length of days had crowned thee. 



u 

Slowly faded like a leaf, 

Natural is tliy slumber. 
Thou livest yet in many hearts, 

Thy friends no one can number. 

Good night, father, last farewell! 

Never we'll behold thee. 
May the sod rest light on thee. 

Gently earth enfold thee. 

"l^ax vobiscum," (solemn words), 

Sadly death bereft us. 
Lonely is the hearth and home, 

Father, since you left us. 

Sheaves of love and peace are thine, 
No wrong thou didst to any. 

May thy lifes i)ure earnest zeal 
Strength impart to many. 

—Fannie L. 



35 

THE LaTE col. H. W. LOUGHEUY. "THE FATHER 
OF TEXAS DEMOCKAOV". 

At the request of a number of his frieiuls, who desiie to 
possess some autlientiememorialconcerniii.uhim, the widow 
of this well remembered veteran journalist and stainless 
patriot, who for many years eonsecrated his genius and 
best efforts to the cause of Demoeracy and good govern- 
ments, the best interests of society and the building uj) of 
the material interests of the s.ate of Texas, has prepared 
and is nowhavingpublished at Nacogdoches, Texas, a brief, 
but complete, and accurate and charmingly written ]\Iemoir 
of his life, character and services. His record presents a 
life-long devotion to i)rihci])le, rarely found in the history 
of any state. Doubtless there are many members of the 
press in Texas now who remember his kindly aid and en- 
couraging words. Yielding at length to the burden of years 
lie passed peacefully away, April 20., l.Sl)4, at his home in 
Marshall, Texas. For over forty years Col. Loughery w as 
intimately and actively connected with the history and 
develoi)mentof Texas and was jin important factor in shap- 
ing its ]mblic ))oIicies and destiny. During the days of 
Houston, Ivusk, Henderson, \'an Zandt, and other leading- 
spirits, he was editing one of the leading journals of our 
young and vigorous state, not as a foHower but as a leader 
in all the great measures ot statesmansliip that ha\e 
resulted in giving Texas her present juoud jKJsition among 
the states of the American Union. In all the i)olitical 
battles fought during these forty years for the triumi>h 
of Democracy and good government, he was seen and iieard 
in the front of the contest, dealing telling blows into the 
ranks of the opposition. It was in;iiiil\' Ihrtnigii his efforts 



II 




014 544 545 



tliat the Democratic organization was perfected and tlie 
first DcMiocratic State Convention held in this state in 1855. 
Hundreds, perhaps thousand, recognized him as a leader 
worthy of all i)raise. Tliinking it would be a pleasing remem - 
berance of Col. Loughery to his brethern of the press and 
his many friends in Texas, Mrs. E, M. Loughery, has writ- 
the biographical sketch referred to. The book will be in 
neat pamphlet form. One dollar per copy, which will 
greatly aid her. Please respond promptly, those desireing 
a coi>y of the memoir are requested to send her one dollar 
in payment for same and it will be mailed to them. — 
Houston Post. Address, 

MES. E. M. LOUGHERY, 



JUL 



^1 LIBRARY OF CONbREbb 

v'1 




